My rear subframe rusted thru and has holes in it. It is too dangerous to drive and mazda won't recall the rear like the front subframe knowing that a lot of people are suffering from the same issue. A subframe should last a long time. My mechanic inspected the car and feels like it's not safe to drive.
2009 Mazda MAZDA6 body problems
123 complaints (32% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 85,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 123
- of this car's complaints
- 32%
- typical mileage
- 85,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Body79
- Frame and members6
- Body: door3
- Frame and members: underbody shields2
- Body: door: hinge and attachments1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Mazda MAZDA6 body problems in other years
Related recalls
Structure
- What is wrong
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Mazda Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The front cross member may corrode after exposure to road salt.
- Risk
- Corrosion may weaken the mounting point for the passenger side lower control arm, unexpectedly changing the steering alignment and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front cross member, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1‑800‑222‑5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2818I.
Recall number 18V631000 · Recall details
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments
- What is wrong
- Mazda is recalling 29,000 my 2009 mazda6. The outer door handles may stick which may prevent the door from latching. This situation may allow the door to open while the vehicle is in motion.
- Risk
- Driving the vehicle with the door unlatched could lead to an unbelted occupant being ejected and could result in death or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the door handles and if necessary repair or replace the handles free of charge. The recall began on february 13, 2009. Owners may contact mazda at 1‑800‑222‑5500.
Recall number 09V043000 · Recall details
What 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The front and rear crossmembers have significant rust. The front has holes and chunks of metal missing due to rust corrosion. The rear has flaking and is deeply pockmarked with rust. These are structural components. Failure can lead to a crash.
2009 Mazda 6 Rear subframe and springs are deemed unsafe due to extreme rusting and corrosion. The vehicle is registered and has been registered in both NY and PA (salt states), however was regularly washed and garage maintained. Vehicle will no longer pass inspection due to this issue and Mazda indicates no recall for the rear at this time and is ignoring that this is a highly prevalent issue. Mazda recalled and acknowledged this issue on these makes/models related to the front; however refuses to acknowledge and repair/recall the issue extending to the rear. The vehicle is in otherwise good shape, and the extreme rusting to the subframe/springs is not consistent with normal wear and tear. This is an extremely prevalent issue arising to these vehicles being ignored by Mazda. Mechanics are indicating the issue is extremely deteriorated and not safe, but that the vehicle is in otherwise good shape and the issue is consistent with faulty parts.
I have a 2009 Mazda 6, the subframe/engine cradle has completely rusted out on the right side causing the lower control arm to detach from the frame while I was driving almost causing a accident luckily I was driving slow at the time. There was a recall for this exact issue, I contacted Mazda and they have no open recalls and can not help me
"What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?" - Rear subframe. Total rust through due to improper steel alloy and insufficient paint. Same as happened for the front subframe. Front subframe was recalled as 2818I (Mazda's number) and 19V‑323, 18V‑631 (the federal safety agency numbers). the federal safety agency should also mandate rear subframe be recalled. "How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?" - Total catastrophic structural failure of rear suspension. Would result in a total loss of control while driving. This would likely lead to a severe, possibly fatal accident at-speed. "Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?" - As reported by independent service center. "Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?" - no, this exact vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer. Manufacturer is doubtless aware of the issue. A cursory google search leads to dozens of identical cases. "Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?" - there were no warnings of the failure prior to discovery by service center.
I took my car to the mechanic for some routine maintenance and they called to tell me they discovered that the rear subframe is completely corroded. They say the car is not safe to drive, as it could come apart at any moment, and it will cost so much to repair (current estimate is $8000 and still climbing!) that it may be better for me to buy a new car (which I cannot afford). The mechanic expressed shock at how badly the subframe has deteriorated. He said it is in much worse shape than the rest of the car, which I have always maintained carefully. In 2019 my car was recalled for a defective front cross-member, which the dealer replaced. I was told at the time that it was recalled because the coating applied to it was defective and did not protect the part from corrosion. Based on my research, it seems that the same defective coating was applied to the rear subframe, and that it is why it has rusted so quickly and severely. I see that the federal safety agency is already aware of this issue - [XXX] . The exact problem I am having is described in [XXX] : "Mazda6 owners told the federal safety agency there was severe corrosion of the right rear subframes that caused the steering rack mounting bolts to fail." It is completely unacceptable that Mazda replaced the defective part in the front but has not replaced the similarly defective part in the rear, which has failed for the same reason. I am furious that this has made my beloved car, which is otherwise in very good shape and runs beautifully, undriveable. Mazda should be required to repair this severe safety defect, which is entirely their responsibility! Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
* Drivers side (worst) and passenger side rear lower control arm. Both are available for inspection upon request. * The drivers side rear lower control arm rusted through and cracked near the point where it connects to the rear subframe. The right lower control arm did not yet visibly crack (it's still on the vehicle), but it is also severely rusted. If driven and either completely separated, loss of control as well as flying debris on the road would have been nearly certain. * I cannot drive the car to a dealer or service center. The problem is visibly obvious and online owners forums anecdotally indicate the problem is widespread. * The component is available for inspection. I have shown my mechanic and intend to take to a dealer. Because there was no accident or injury, thankfully, I have no cause for engaging police or insurance. * There was no warning/indicator in the vehicle. The first symptom of trouble was severe wear on the inside of the left rear tire. The vehicle then had a four-wheel alignment and suspension components were noted to be tight and adjusted into spec at that point. Some weeks later, we heard disturbing noises from the rear as we went over even small bumps in the road. We noticed the suspicious sound during a local drive and drove gently and directly home, so cannot say how much the partial break may have affected control at that point. Upon inspection, the rusted & cracked steel of the driver's side control arm was readily visible. Other notes: The rear subframe itself shows significant flaking and rust in comparison to the rest of the vehicle's undercarriage, but at least there appears to be more substance left to the metal of the subframe. Photos & measurements available upon request.
The right side of the dashboard melts when the sun is out it’s very sticky and black comes off
Rear subframe rust got so bad the control arm snapped off and nearly killed my family.
Rear subframe rusted completely out
Questions about the 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 body
Does the 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 have body problems?
Owners have filed 123 complaints about the body of the 2009 Mazda MAZDA6, 32% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 body problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 85,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 body?
Yes, 2 recalls: 18V631000, 09V043000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mazda MAZDA6 have the most body problems?
The Mazda MAZDA6 model years with the most body complaints are 2009 (123 complaints), 2010 (60 complaints) and 2011 (30 complaints).
Other 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 problems
Suspension 76Airbags 75Steering 36Electrical 32Visibility 17Engine 16Wheels 16Lights 15Tires 14Fuel system 11Locks 10Brakes 9Transmission 7Driver assistance 4Acceleration 2Seats 2Seat belts 1
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